Fluorescent lighting fixture



Nov. 10, 1942. H. G. ALM

- FLUORESCENT LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed Feb. 1, 1940 IN VENTOR. 6. 107,

ATTORNEYS 112s, both ,ior fluorescent lamps which tending edge flangesPatented Nov. 10, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT orries rwonnscnn'fifigfi'mcFIXTURE I Henry G. Aim,

Elkhart, Ind, assignor to The Adlake Company, a corporation 01' IllinoisApplication February 1, 1940, Serial No. 316,786

6 Claims. (Cl. 240-78) Fixtures for fluorescent lamps now in general useare recognized as having certain shortcomr in utility and appearance;For example, the appearance oithe lamp and oi the fixture as a whole isdiminished by the formation of dark zones at the ends 01 the lampadjacent to the electrodes and by unconcealed lamp sockets protrudingfrom the fixture, the latter being also undesirable from a practicalviewpoint, as they are subject to damage by accidental blows and totampering. When the fixture is installed in a public or semi-publiclocation, the possibility of tampering is always present and mayconstitute a serious safety hazard.

An object of my invention is therefore, to provide afixtureiorfiuorescent lamps in which the dark zone of the lamp, thesockets, wiring and other unsightly appurtenances are concealed fromview and protected from accidental blows or tampering, but are at thesame time readily accessible for inspection, repair or replacements.

Another object is to provide a lighting fixture is decorative inappearance, but relatively inexpensive, easy to install and capable ofbeing attached to any firm surface.

Gther objects will become apparent from the following'description andfrom the drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of the assembled fixture,"

Fig. 2 is a central sectional view taken along the longer axis of aslightly diiferent form oi the Fig. 3 is a sectional end view of Fig. 2taken along the line 3-3;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a lamp socket suitable for use inconnection with this fixture; and

Fig. 5 is a reduced sectional end view of a modified form of thefixture.

The fixture comprises a base ll, preferably formed of cast aluminum,with downwardly ex- !2 and bosses I 3 positioned on the rear of thefixtureto receive a reactor unit I 4. If desired, the base may bepolished or plated to serve as a reflector for the lamp.

Sockets, generally designated l5, adapted to receive a fluorescent lampiii, are mounted on the base II in any convenient manner. In the type offixture illustrated, the upper part of the socket extends through anopening I! in the base I I, and an outwardly extending flange I8 isattached to the lower part of the socket, having an opening thereincooperating with a tapped opening in' the 55 hollow upright the currentto 'porized mercury lies base through which the mounting screws I9 maybe inserted. The distance between the sockets i5 is of course governedby the length of the lamp l5.

The reactor unit l4 consists essentially of a choke coil and anautomaticstarting switch and is usually assembled in one unit. Ifdesired, how ever, the starter switch and choke coil may be separatelymounted. For the purpose of illustration however, the term reactor unitis to be understood as including both the starter switch and choke coilunless otherwise stated.

The fluorescent lamp i6 is generally tubular in form and closed at eachend by a cap 2! through which metallic prongs 22 project. Within thetube adjacent to the ends are wire electrodes 23, each end of eachelectrode being connected to one of the prongs 22 projecting through oithe first electrode is connected to the automatic starter switch, whichis closed initially, allowing reach one end of the second electrodewhich is also connected to the starter switch.- The other end of thesecond electrode is connected to the source of current, thereby allowingcurrent to flow successively through the choke coil, the firstelectrode, the automatic starter switch andthe second electrode. Theheat generated by the current flowing through the electrodes vaporizesthe mercury in the lamp to form a conductive medium between the.electrodes. When the mercury has been vaporized the automatic starterswitch opens, and the choke coil provides 'a surge of current sufiicientto cause a discharge between the electrodes through the vaporizedmercury.

A considerable portion of the light rays generated by the dischargepassing through the vaabove .the upper limits oi the visible spectrumand is generally termed ultra-violet. These rays strike certain saltswhich have been deposited on the inner side of the glass lamp walls,causing the salts to become fluorescent and emit light rays lying withinthe visible spectrum. As long as the current flows between theelectrodes the starter switch will remain open.

The sockets i5 may onsist or a relatively thin portion 24 and a base orflange l8 containing openings for the attaching screws IS. The uprightsection contains two spaced resilient contactor arms 25, the upperportions of which are formed to receive the prongs 22 on the ends of.the lamp l by bending the arms 25 first outwardly at 45", then inwardlywith relation to the bent portion at 90", then outwardly again at 45,the last named bend bringing the upper portion or the arm back intoalignment with the lower portion. When this operation has been completedand the two arms are placed facing each other, the bent portions or thearms will form an approximately square opening. The lower end or eacharm is provided with a binding post 28 to which wires may be attached.The arms are held by and within the upright section of the socket facingeach other, the bent portions of the arms fitting around a protrudingcylindrical portion 21 or the upright section. A slit 28 is providedparallel to the long axis of the socket extending inwardly part waythrough the upright housing and downwardly through the cylindricalprotuberanc 21 to the lower apex of the square opening formed by thebent portions of the arms 25. The face of the upright section coveringthe opening formed between the arms is cut away as shown in Fig. 4. Thedimensions and position 01 the socket and its parts are such that thelamp may be inserted by aligning the prongs 22 of the lamp 16 with theslit 28 in the socket, pushing the lamp inwardly until th leading prongreaches the bottom of the slit 28 and then turning the lamp 90. Thelampprongs will then be held inside the resilient arms at the apex ofthe angles formed in the arms by bending as the diagonal distance acrossthe square-shaped opening from corner to corner is equal to, or slightlyless than the distance between the prongs 22. It is desirable that noportion or the socket I5, and particularly the terminals 26, extendbelow the base flanges l2.

Hoods 29 are mounted on the base H, as by hinges 3D, the shape of thehoods and the position of the hinges being such that the hoods may closeover the lamp sockets l5 and part of the lamp I6. These hoods 29 may beof any desired decorative shape, such as that illustrated, it beingessential however, that their length, width and depth be sullicient toadequately cover and conceal the lamp sockets and a portion of the lampadjacent thereto. mounted on the same base, the width of the hoods maybe increased to cover as many lamp sockets and end portions of lamps asdesired. Openings 3i of suitable size are provided in one side andedge.o1 each hood and extended upwardly a sufficient distanceto allowthe hoods to close over and around the lamp, thesupper portions of theseopenings being formed to follow the outer contour of the lamp. Theremaining sides or the hood are solid, the bottom edges being shaped tofit snugly against the base. If the base is rectangular, the hinges areplaced adjacent to the ends and parallel thereto as shown in Fig. 2.

Within the portions of the base H covered by the hoods 29 when closed,means are provided for attaching the fixture to a wall or similarsurface, usually consisting of an opening through the base I I and ascrew or bolt 33 fitting through the opening to engage the wall.

The interior of each hood is provided with a lug or projection 34constituting a detent in the shape of a half cylinder positioned on oneside of the hood to engage with a spring clip When several lamps are ingscrews or bolts mounted on the base. The clip 35 may be formed of an Lshaped section of resilient metal, one leg of which is attached to thebase by any suitable means, the other leg projecting outwardly from thebase and being shaped to receive the lug 34 on the hood 29 as byindenting or recessing the upper portion of the upright leg to receivethe lug. As the hood is closed the lug 34 will engage the upright leg ofthe clip and force it to one side until the hood is practically closed.

The indentation in the upright leg which has been formed to cooperatewith the lug 34 then snaps over and around the lug and against the sideof 'the hood, thus in its closed position.

The bosses or projections [3 upon th rear oi the base are provided withmeans for receiving the reactor unit H as by tapped holes 35 adapted toreceive screws 31 passing through openings in the sidewardly extendinglugs 38 of the reactor unit. These bosses l3 may be oi any desired shapebut do not extend rearwardly beyond the base flanges l2 nor completelyacross the base I l in any direction. The reactor unit 14 is of courseshorter and narrower than the base ll.

As previously mentioned, it is not essential that the automatic starterswitch and choke coil be assembled in one unit, herein designated as thereactor unit, i4. Fig. 1 illustrates an alternative method of mountingthe starter switch and coil in which the starter switch 39 is held onthe outer side of the base by means of a spring clip 41 attached to thebase or by other suitable means. The exact position of the switch 39 isgoverned by th size of the hood 29, as it must be mounted in suchposition that the hood 29 will close over and conceal the switch. Whenthis method of mounting is employed, an opening 42 is provided in thebase ll adjacent to one end of the switch through which wires may pass.As the starter switches are subject to failure, this method of mountingis often advantageous due to the accessibility of the switch. The chokecoil may be mounted upon the inner side of th base in the same manner asdescribed for the assembled reactor unit 14.

It is customary to install fluorescent lighting fixtures in the mannerillustrated in Fig. 2, wherein the wall is recessed to receive a metalbox 43 containing openings 44 in each end for wires. This metal box isshorter and narrower than the base II and so is not visible when thefixture is positioned over it, but is sufficient in size to receive thereactor unit i4 and any necessary wires. Flanges are formed on the sidesand/or ends of the therein for attaching screws 45 which are used tosecure the box in position. The fixture attach- 33 are usuallypositioned on the base to engage directly with the wall withoutinterfering with or striking the metal box 43, but means may be providedfor attaching the fixture directly to the box. a

It is oftenimpractical to recess a wall or partition either" because ofthe material of which the wall is cohstructed or because of thethickness of the wall. In such case the reactor unit 14 may be detachedfrom the fixture and placed in some other more convenient location. Thefixture may then be attached directly to the wall and the necessarywiring led through a small opening in the wall to the socket terminals26. This is possible because there are no projections on the inner sideof the base ll extending rearholding the hood firmly box with openingsprovided wardly beyond the base flanges l2 and because the fianges l2provide sufiicient space between the base II and the wall to permit thepassage of wires. The same result may be accomplished without detachingthe reactor unit ll or the choke coil, as the case may be, by providingflanges It" on the base H' deep enough to .enclose sufiicient space toreceive the reactor unit or choke coil as shown in Fig. 5.

If the fixture is to be used outdoors or in any location where severeexposure is probable, the fixture may be made weather-proof by placingrubber gaskets around the lower edges of the hoods 29, and other gasketsof similar material around the lamp IS in such manner that when thehoods are closed and the lamp gaskets moved intoposition all theopenings into the hoods are sealed.

If installation in a public or semi-public location is contemplated, itis desirable that the hoods be somewhat difllcult to open without tools,for obviously if the hoods remain closed it will be impossible to tamperwith the fixture and the possibility of accidents arising from suchtampering is completely eliminated. Furthermore, it will be impossiblefor unauthorized persons to 'remove the lamps from the sockets. Thehoods 29 may be made more difiicult to open by increasing the number orstrength of the spring clips 35.

By the use of the type of fixture described, considerable economy may beeffected in'construction. For example, the sockets l5 and fixturemounting means 33 need not be attractively finished and may be madelarger or of more durable material as they are concealed from view bythe hoods 29. The appearance of the fixture as a whole is greatlyenhanced, as the visible portion of the lamp I6 is uniformly illuminatedthroughout its length and all unattractive but essential attachments arconcealed. The hoods likewise serve to protect the sockets fromaccidental blows. However, even though concealed,

the lamps, sockets, and wiring are easily accessible for repair,inspection or replacement with-- out any possibility of damage to theappearance of the fixture.

It is obvious that the fixture hereinbefore described is capable ofconsiderable modification. For example the hood hinges may be placedupon the side of the hood instead of the end or may be eliminated by theuse of two or more spring clips. The base does not necessarily have tobe rectangular, but may be of any desired shape and as many lamps asdesired may be attached to one base. The hoods likewise may beconstructed to cover as many lamp units as desired, and it is notessential that the lamp be of the fluorescent type, as myinvention maybe advantageously applied to other types of lamps. The foregoingdescription has been made by way of illustration and it is to beunderstood that modifications thereof are to beconsidered as within thescope of the appended claims except insofar as-limited by the prior art.

What is claimed is:

1. In a fluorescent lighting fixture, a base, means for attaching saidbase to a wall, sockets rigidly attached to said base and extendingoutwardly therefrom, said sockets being adapted to receive and support afluorescent lamp parallel and adjacent to said base, a starter switchremovably attached to the outer side of said base, and hoods hingedlyattached to said base, said hoods being adapted to. perate with saidbase to substantially enclose and protect said sockets.- 1s

attaching means, starter switch and the end portions of a fluorescentlamp when said hoods are closed against said base.

2. In a fluorescent lighting fixture, a rigid base, a socketimmovablyattached to said base and extending laterally therefrom, means forattaching said base to a wall, a starter switch removably attached tosaid base, and a hood hingedly attached to said base, said hood being soconstructed and arranged; as to swing into closed position against saidbase, thereby concealing and protecting said socket, starter switch andattaching means.

3. In a fluorescent lighting fixture, an elongated base, a plurality ofsockets rigidly attached to said base in aligned relation and extendinglaterally therefrom, a fluorescent lamp received and supported by saidsockets parallel and adjacent to said base, means for attaching saidbase to a wall, a starter switch attached to the outer side -of saidbase adjacent said sockets, hoods hingedly amxed to said base adjacentthe extremities ends of the lamp, each of said hoods having the form ofa box with its open side against said flat surface and being hinged to,said flat surface on an axis lying in back of the enclosed socket saidlamp to extend therethrough to said socket. spring means mounted on thebase, and detent means on the hood cooperating with said spring means tomaintain the hood in said enclosing position with the bottoms of thewalls in engagement with the base.

' IIENRY G. AIM.

